I lay my head to rest,

And in doing so,

Lay at your feet

The faces I have seen,

The voices I have heard

The words I have spoken

The hands I have shaken

The service I have given,

The joys I have shared,

The sorrows revealed,

I lay them at your feet

And in doing so

Lay my head to rest.

John Birch faithandworship.com

Hi Friends,

A significant week as shops and zoos have opened again after 3 months; not perhaps your usual experience, as two metres distancing is still recommended but not easy, and the numbers of people are much reduced. I’m not a fan so won’t be going more than is essential. Of course, the over 70’s should rely on others where possible to get shopping. Face coverings must be worn on public transport now, and some churches are opening for private prayer whilst socially distancing.

I liked the sound of ‘bubbles’, as I’m a big fan of champagne and sparkling wines, which got me thinking about sharing some with someone else - but who? The government guidelines about this are not easy to understand; being in a single person/single parent household I understand one can bubble with another household as long as they don’t bubble with anyone else - this of course reduces the people we can bubble with. One of our older people who I visit was in a dilemma - she has two children who have families, both living nearby, and was trying to decide which daughter she should bubble with. She decided she wouldn’t make that choice but would bubble with another friend who is on their own and continue to see her family from the two-metre distance on her doorstep. I hope the two friends will share a bottle of bubbles to celebrate the reunion. They can now give each other a hug and sit next to each other on the sofa. If you are shielding, supportive bubbles are not recommended.

One of our club supporters has found out about Soothe Boxes or Jars which can help if you are feeling down. Your challenge is to make a Soothe Jar: find a jar and write on a piece of paper 10 things you like that make you feel better and put them in the jar, for example a favourite piece of music or CD, A favourite poem or book, someone you like talking to on the phone, your favourite chocolate, something about yourself to celebrate, a photo of your favourite holiday or place etc. If you are feeling a bit down you can dip into the jar to help lift your spirits or interrupt negative thoughts. Why not give it a go?

11

An evocative anonymous contribution from a reader…

1951 STORM (My Memory of Being Fearful)

A 12year old little girl. Friday was just like any other Friday. Mother has gone to work, the afternoon CAME, the evening CAME and gathers momentum.

As we live near the sea, you can see a mist gather in the sky. Mother hadn't returned from the market. I became fearful and Father started to barricade the cellar, under the house.

Mother suddenly arrived just in time. Almost immediately a sand storm began. Zinks from the roof was swirling around in mid-air. We went hastily under the cellar, we hoped and prayed, we would be SAFE

I thought this storm would NEVER, NEVER end. And that we were all going to DIE

Morning came and then we saw the damage that was done. Mangoes, plums, bananas (favourite fruits) & the breadfruits all scattered on the ground and destroyed.

I soon came to the realisation that our lives were spared. which was the most important thing to be thankful to God, for life itself.

Please check out, if you haven’t already and have the means, YouTube - type in Bring Me Sunshine Catford and you’ll find lots of activity videos that you can join in with.

Some of you who I have spoken with are feeling worn out from chatting, or describe the day passing fairly quickly, because families are checking in more often, friends are calling, church or club members speak more, telephone befrienders are calling. Let’s hope this continues for the isolated in the future, but remember there are still many people who may not be in this position, so keep in touch with friends especially those without family or who are on their own. A friendly chat is usually very welcome.

Please keep in your prayers Rose Rosemarie who is in hospital and continue to pray for the soul of Enid Harrison who died recently.

“Giving Love is the greatest pleasure of the heart… receiving it back the highest treasure of the soul”. Love in Christ, Lesley

CARS

Vera has been sending ideas for positivity to people

from a mental health drop-in group during

lockdown, and is pleased to share them with you

Stockwell Good Neighbours lead organiser: Lesley email lesleyaallen@btopenworld.com Tel. 07729 785843

To make SGN original contributions (your words, not your money!): Amy

email 1000AQ@googlemail.com Tel. 07847 799791

Your contributions make all the difference… please, please share - a

quiz, poem, short piece about what you are doing at home, something

about your life or life in the past… unless you write your name in the

item it will be anonymous, so please join in! If you have email or

whatsapp you can send a picture, too

Morning All,

"You don't need to invade a place or install a new government to help bring about a positive change." - Nicholas Kristof There is a lot of evil going on all around us and to be honest we cannot be surprised. Bible says that this generation is perverse and crooked (Acts 2:40) since 'the heart is deceitful above all things' (Jeremiah 17:9) But to change the world we must start on ourselves: our attitudes; our mentalities; our habits; and our actions. In John 8:1-7, the Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery and they wanted to stone her. Yet they asked Jesus, 'what should they do?'. It would've been a negative deterrent if they had stoned her: others would've been cautioned to not cheat on their spouses and the law of Moses would be adhered to. Nonetheless, Jesus took this social issue and made it personal: "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." (John 8:7) Jesus changed their focus of thinking from the adulteress' sin to their own. What I'm trying to say is that during these times I'm focusing on improving myself for a positive change to be made - are you? Hope you have a blessed day, Vera :)

10 3

Some thoughts about smiling, from Sister Regula, St. Andrew’s Convent

I imagine that most/all of us are very sensitive to a genuine smile of

somebody we meet; it is like a gift we can receive / offer. I believe that to

smile gently and sincerely is also good for ourselves. It does not mean that

we ignore the suffering in the world or our own; we simply acknowledge

that there are also a lot of wonders and things to be grateful for.

Many wise people have written on the importance of a smile.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a French Jesuit, wrote:

“It is absolutely necessary to keep smiling. The essential, and doubtless

most fruitful, gesture is to smile, with something of love in the smile.”

The Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh wrote and spoke often

about smiling:

“Practice smiling … and the whole world benefits”

and here he includes it in a breathing exercise:

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the

present moment I know this is the only moment”

Psalm 67:1 in the Bible mentions God smiling on us:

“God be gracious to us and bless us,

and let your face smile upon us”

And Psalm 34:5 says:

“Those who look to God are radiant”

Wishing you a good day, and the gift of a smile given or received

4

9

Contributed by a reader…

I was walking down life’s highway a long time ago,

and I saw a sign that read “Heaven’s Grocery Store”. As I got a little closer, the door came open wide, Then I came to find myself standing right inside.

I saw angels, they were standing everywhere. One handed me a basket and said, “My child shop with care.”

Everything a Christian needed was in that grocery store. And all you couldn’t carry you could return the next day for.

First, I got some patience, love was in the same row. Further down was understanding, which you need everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of wisdom, a bag or two of faith. I couldn’t miss the Holy Ghost; He was abundant in this place.

I stepped to get some strength and courage, to help me run the race. By now my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed grace.

I couldn’t forget salvation, that was free! So I tried to get enough of that, to save both you and me.

Then I started up to the counter, to pay my grocery bill. I thought I had everything I needed to do my Master’s will.

As I went up to the aisle, I saw prayer and put that in, for I knew when I stepped outside, I would run right into sin.

Peace and joy were plentiful, they were on the last shelf. Song and praise were hanging near; so I just helped myself.

Then I asked the angel, “How much do I owe?” He smiled and said, “take them everywhere you go.”

Again, I smiled at him and said, “How much do I really owe?” He smiled again and said “My child, Jesus paid your bill a long time ago”

Heaven’s Grocery Store

8

5

Getting to know you...

Some simple yoga

exercises to try –

but remember, stop

if it starts to hurt

While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realise and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God's creation

Maya Angelou

My name is Norma Maria Henry.

Before I married, my maiden

name was Green. I was born in

Kingston, Jamaica. I came here

in 1962, and got married in

1964. I have five children –

three boys and two girls (two of

the boys are identical twins),

fourteen grandchildren and six

great grandchildren.

I am a dressmaker, in 1963 I was working as a seamstress at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.

Last year, 2019, made fifty-five years of marriage, which is called Emerald Anniversary – my daughter Maria gave us a surprise church service for our anniversary, followed by a party. My husband had an accident and is now brain damaged, but he is doing fine.

I am known as the Stockwell Queen by most people, although I do not like the name. I appreciate it all the same as I do not want anyone to feel bad. It is because I have helped many of the youngsters in many ways.

A message from Eustace - to say that his

phone hasn’t been working properly, but he

sends his love to everyone and hopes all is

well. He would like to share Psalm 27 v4:

One thing I ask from the LORD,

this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the LORD

and to seek him in his temple

Psalm 100 (NIV) A psalm. For giving grateful praise

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Praise from Ghana

My Joys Mount as do the Birds

Lord, I am happy this morning, Birds and angels sing and I am exultant.

The universe and our hearts are open to your grace. I feel my body and give thanks.

The sun burns my skin and I thank you. The breakers are rolling toward the seashore,

The sea foam splashes our house. I give thanks. Lord, I rejoice in your creation,

and that you are behind it, and before, and next to it, and above - and within us.

A prayer contribution:

Thank you for bringing us safely to this day. Thank you for the gifts of grace and strength and for the

kindness and generosity of those who support and care for us. As we struggle with the loss of contact with others may our

hearts and minds learn to have daily conversations with you, and that you may instil in us the belief and hope that all things

are possible with your creative love. Amen

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,

for all the benefits thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly,

love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day.

Amen. Richard of Chichester:

Some words of thanksgiving